Need suggestion for child actors (pre-prod becoming a nightmare) - IndieTalk

barant1 · 08-01-2012, 08:33 PM

Hi everyone, I need some input here as most things don't usually make me pull my hair out but this is starting to.

I am going to shoot a micro budget feature ($20K) in October. I have cast adult actors before and everything works out just great. In this project, I can't find the right location in Los Angeles, so I am forced to go at lease one hour outside LA. (this is problem one). The cast will have to stay at the location about 80% of the time, I dont think many people are willing to spend 2 hours in the car every day for copy and credit.

Here's my big prolem: I have two principal roles which are children (around 7 and 12 years old). My original plan was to put out a breakdown for these roles (which were going to be copy/credit) and find some cool parents who really want their kid as principals in a feature project. BUT, when I put out the breakdown, I got a call from the casting service who advised that parents are nightmares to work with and I had to state what their shooting hours would be, that a lot of kids cant read and arent good with dialogue (why i never thought of this, i dont know) and some cant say dialogue at all. Then he said that there would need to be a studio teacher on set. These cost about $2,500 per week. Not including meals, lodge etc. Additionally I need workers comp to get the permit from California for the kid to work. This has become a nightmare. Any thoughts about what I can do here? Do I call friends who have kids who I may not have to deal with all of this stuff to act in it? Do I say screw it and put out the breakdown and then feel the parents out and say "sorry, I can't afford a studio teacher but I'll give you equity in the film." Ideas, please!

NickClapper · 08-01-2012, 08:36 PM

My main suggestion is to do a general rewrite with two objectives:

-Make the kids roles smaller.
-Make the locations work with the LA area.

If you can do both these things then it shouldn't be too difficult to work with kids. Indie films do it all the time, it's about making it as easy as possible for the kids. If they have slightly pushy parents then they'll be keen to find a way to make your schedule work, so long as you can promise that their kids will still be able to do regular schooling and have dinners and bedtime.

Cracker Funk · 08-01-2012, 08:37 PM

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but in addition to every difficulty you listed above, there is also the fact that kids are F-ing retarded. You should expect to double your production time, and that doubles ALL costs.

Rewrite?

dlevanchuk · 08-01-2012, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but in addition to every difficulty you listed above, there is also the fact that kids are F-ing retarded.

Oh Joseph.. you're such an honest man. Loving it!

DeJager · 08-01-2012, 09:08 PM

Kids will ruin a production esp if they are not trained child actors. I have learned the hard way.

barant1 · 08-01-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickClapper

My main suggestion is to do a general rewrite with two objectives:

-Make the kids roles smaller.
-Make the locations work with the LA area.

If you can do both these things then it shouldn't be too difficult to work with kids. Indie films do it all the time, it's about making it as easy as possible for the kids. If they have slightly pushy parents then they'll be keen to find a way to make your schedule work, so long as you can promise that their kids will still be able to do regular schooling and have dinners and bedtime.

What is the farthest from LA I should consider for a daily commute?

jax_rox · 08-01-2012, 09:31 PM

30 miles IIRC

TheArtist · 08-01-2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but in addition to every difficulty you listed above, there is also the fact that kids are F-ing retarded. You should expect to double your production time, and that doubles ALL costs.

Rewrite?

Oh my God you're epic.

NickClapper · 08-01-2012, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barant1

What is the farthest from LA I should consider for a daily commute?

I have no idea, but the closer you can get, the easier life will be for you.

As everyone has pointed out, acting with kids is going to be a pain. Aside from breaking laws, the last thing you want is a couple of impatient kids having to hang out on your set when they're not needed. If you're shooting within a short driving distance from their home, you'll be making it infinitely easier for yourself in the long run.

What sort of location do you need that you can't find in LA?

barant1 · 08-01-2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickClapper

I have no idea, but the closer you can get, the easier life will be for you.

As everyone has pointed out, acting with kids is going to be a pain. Aside from breaking laws, the last thing you want is a couple of impatient kids having to hang out on your set when they're not needed. If you're shooting within a short driving distance from their home, you'll be making it infinitely easier for yourself in the long run.

What sort of location do you need that you can't find in LA?

Thanks for all of your advice. Im looking for a small home in a rural or wooded area or a cabin type location. Somewhere that is secluded with nature around it. I can find it all over Big Bear or Idyllwild, but something to pass in LA County isn't looking good at all. There's pine crest but that's still an hour and ten minutes out.

NickClapper · 08-01-2012, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barant1

Thanks for all of your advice. Im looking for a small home in a rural or wooded area or a cabin type location. Somewhere that is secluded with nature around it. I can find it all over Big Bear or Idyllwild, but something to pass in LA County isn't looking good at all. There's pine crest but that's still an hour and ten minutes out.

Hmm, that's probably tricky in any urban environment.

My only recommendation is to shoot exteriors outside of LA and try and find a location with plausibly rural interiors closer to home. Unless you need the kids to run free in the wild...

barant1 · 08-01-2012, 09:59 PM

Im stumped.

PaulGriffith · 08-01-2012, 11:25 PM

I might be the one guy here opposing everyone, kids are a blast to work with. Well, the right kids are anyway.

There are plenty of child actors out there who's parents are the ones pushing them and helping them and are willing to bend over backwards to get their kid a feature role. We've had patents drive their kid in from out of state AND flip a hotel bill just for an audition for a short. One dad/son combo flew from way out of state on their expense so the kid could star in an Indy tribute we produced (in post now).

Good child actors will memorize their lines and 90% of the time their parents run them with them. Just be sure to go with an actor and not a kid that just wants to act, makes all the difference in the world. We've worked with them too and it is a nightmare.

Now, we've never done a multiple day shoot with a kid or gone SAG. Plan your shoot for when they're out of school for best results, or find a home school kid which is actually pretty common among child actors really trying to make it. They do take a little longer and you can't push as hard, so if you have 16 hour shooting days planned only count on the kids for half of that, then shoot scenes without them for the other half.

Especially in LA where the stereotype is "everyone is an actor", I'll bet you'll find a parent willing to drive their kid the long way out, especially if you take care of gas or a motel for the really long days. Have you tried more than one listing? We cast some of our best kids from Facebook (actor groups) and Craigslist.

And it is true, some actor moms can be annoying at times on set, but if you show that you have their kid's best interest in mind it usually goes pretty smooth.

I've done many videos with kids over the years. At least a dozen. Don't write it off completely just yet! Oh, and for your 7 year old role, cast a short 10-12 year old and you'll have a better time. You might get away with a 13 or 14 year old playing 12 too.

jax_rox · 08-01-2012, 11:31 PM

Technically (AFAIK) you are meant to have a studio teacher on set, and there are pretty strict rules on how long you can work children.

That said, I've worked with some amazing up-and-coming kid actors in LA whose parents are prepared to drive them around all day and have them work for nothing if the script is good enough.

barant1 · 08-02-2012, 01:38 AM

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I have decided that I can cut the scenes with the kids by about 40%. I will shoot their scenes on the weekends over the 3 week shoot, which I think is definately achievable. Hopefully I can find some parents that will push for their kids to get the role and do whatever it takes, I should be able to feel them out during auditions. Maybe I will find some that homeschool as well which don't care too much about filming during the week. I will update here when I go through the process. Thanks a bunch fellas, your suggestions left a few hairs on the top of my head.